Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) president and CEO, Damian Obiglio warned customers of conserving as oil prices, a major determinant in the cost of electricity, are expected to surge this year.

“The oil price has been going up and in the late week of December passed US$91 a barrel. It later went down two dollars to US$89.” said Obiglio. “But there are some forecasts that for 2011 the price could reach the US$100s again. If that happens we will go back to the situation we had in July 2008 and it was a very stressful situation for JPS and for Jamaicans.”

In August 2008 following the increases in light bills for a number of customers in July that year, there were protests at JPS locations in Portmore, Montego Bay, Portland and Trelawny.

Customers at the time complained that their bills doubled and, in some cases, quadrupled between June and August, even as the price of oil on the world market continued to fall. Prime Minister Bruce Golding then ordered an investigation into the increases. At the time, JPS said a change in the billing cycle had caused the increases.

Added: Obiglio: “People believe that JPS is happy when the price goes up, but on the contrary, because when the price goes up, the consumption goes down. That money that we spend in oil is not coming to JPS so my best advise to our customers at this very early period in the year is conserve, conserve, conserve. Close the fridge, check the lights when you leave it on because that is the only guarantee that you can control your bill. And look into the kilowatt hours that’s the real indication of how much more you are spending on electricity. The price can go up and down but that is not a real indication. If you take a look at your little bars on your bill that goes up and down those are the real cost controllers.”